🌱 Care and Growing
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I am new to grow lights and the internet is not helping. Every listing says full spectrum, every review says life changing, and half the photos look like the same lamp with a different brand name. Plants I am trying to help: - Monstera - Elephant ear - Jade plant - A few small succulents I live in the Midwest and we are about to have cloudy weather for a while. They are near a window, but I know indoor bright is not the same as plant bright. Are clip-on lights enough or should I get a real bulb or panel? How close is too close?
Full spectrum is mostly marketing unless the listing gives real specs. Look at actual watts, coverage area, and distance. A 5 watt clip-on bar is not doing the same job as a 30 watt bulb.
For shelves, I like LED bars because they spread light evenly. For one big plant, a grow bulb in a normal floor lamp can look better. Put the bulb in a shade that points light at the plant, not at the ceiling.
Start with 10 hours a day and adjust. Succulents and jade can sit closer, maybe 6 to 10 inches from a decent light. Monstera can be farther back. Watch for bleaching or crispy patches when you change intensity.
A phone light meter app is not perfect, but it helped me compare spots. My window spot that looked bright to me was much dimmer than the shelf under my LED bar. It was humbling.
Use a timer. It removes the daily decision. I run mine 11 hours in winter and 8 to 9 hours once natural light improves.
Do not buy five lights at once. Get one decent bulb or panel, test it for two weeks, then decide. Plants are slow but your wallet is not.
Acclimate plants to stronger light the same way you would with sun. If they were in a dim corner, do not blast them for 14 hours on day one.
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